1984 United States embassy annex bombing

The 1984 United States embassy annex bombings occurred on 20 September 1984 when the Islamic Jihad Organization sent a suicide bomber to destroy the United States embassy annex in East Beirut, Lebanon, killing 23 people. The US embassy had been relocated to the Christian Aukar suburb of Beirut in the aftermath of the 1983 United States embassy bombing, hoping to increase the security of the annex, but the IJO and the Iranian government planned out an attack on the annex. The IRGC created a mock-up of the annex at the Sheikh Abdullah barracks in Baalbek, and the IJO practiced for the attack before launching their assault on 20 September 1984. An attacked sped a van carrying 3,000 pounds of explosives into the annex, but he was shot dead by guards; his van crashed into a parked van, creating a massive explosion that ripped off the front of the embassy and caused massive damage to the nearby area. The IJO claimed responsibility, saying that attacks would continue until every American had left the Middle East.